Raheem Sterling fired City to only their second home win since September 17 to at least put them back to second place seven points adrift of the leaders.

Guardiola said: “Psychologically it meant a lot. Since 17th September we won just one game here, against Watford, and not because we didn’t deserve. When we play Southampton first half we didn’t deserve anything.

“Against Middlesbrough and especially Everton and Chelsea we deserve more. Seven points is a huge distance and a team can make 11 victories in a row, just say congratulations.

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“It means a lot to win against one of the best teams in the Premier League, a good comeback. Our performance was quite similar against Chelsea, against Chelsea we created more chances.

“Today we were unlucky they scored the first goal. It was a good game. I think we dominate. We are what we are looking for.

“The victories give a lot of confidence in the mind of the players in what we are trying to do. Today is a good day. We are second in the Premier League.”

Guardiola also could not resist a little dig at City’s fans after thanking them for staying until the end while he praised Sterling after his winner and apologised to John Stones for leaving him out again.

Guardiola added: “I am so happy for the fans, they stay until the 94th minute, normally they go with 10 minutes left. We have to play good and they are going to stay with us. We have eight days to recover and prepare Hull City and Anfield.

“We decide to put Sterling to put like a striker not for the crosses, because we don’t have a striker for the crosses. If he could take the ball between the liens and go one against one because he is so, so fast.

“I just apologise to John (Stones) because he don’t deserve to be out. I love him a lot but I just tried to do the same back four we played against Watford. Bacary Sagna also deserves to play. He is the nicest person I ever met, a polite guy, a gentleman.”